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Marsturite

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Molinello Mine, Graveglia Valley, Ne, Genova Province, Liguria, Italy
© Leon Hupperichs

Show Marsturite Photos (4)
Formula:
NaCaMn
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
System:TriclinicColour:Tan
Hardness:6
Isostructural with:Nambulite


See also the Li analogue Lithiomarsturite.

Classification of Marsturite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.27-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
K : Inosilicates with 5-periodic single chains
Dana 8th edition ID:65.4.1.6

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
4 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=5
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.18.29

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
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Type Occurrence of Marsturite

Type Locality:Franklin Mine, Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1978
Geological Setting of type material:As a secondary mineral in cavities in fractures traversing massive -franklinite-willemite-zincite ore in a Precambrian Zn-Mn-Fe orebody hosted in the Franklin marble.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Rhodonite

Physical Properties of Marsturite

Colour:Tan
Hardness (Mohs):6

Crystallography of Marsturite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.7Å, b = 12.03Å, c = 6.78Å
α = 85.26°, β = 94.1°, γ = 111.04°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.64 : 1 : 0.564
Unit Cell Volume:V 583.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Epitaxial Relationships of Marsturite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Rhodonite
Epitaxi Comments:Marsturite very frequently occurs grown epitaxially on bladed rhodonite crystals (Franklin, NJ).

Optical Data of Marsturite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.686 nβ = 1.691 nγ = 1.708
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v weak

Chemical Properties of Marsturite

Formula:
NaCaMn
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
Essential elements:Ca, H, Mn, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, Mn, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg

Relationship of Marsturite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DK.05Babingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe,Mn)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Lithiomarsturite
LiCa
 
2
Mn
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Manganbabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Nambulite
(Li,Na)Mn
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Natronambulite
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH
9.DK.05Rhodonite
MnSiO
 
3
9.DK.05Scandiobabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn)ScSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Fowlerite
9.DK.10Bostwickite
CaMn
 
6
Si
 
3
O
 
16
·7H
 
2
O
9.DK.10Santaclaraite
CaMn
 
4
[Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH](OH)·H
 
2
O
9.DK.15Saneroite
Na
 
2
(Mn,Mn)
 
10
Si
 
11
VO
 
34
(OH)
 
4
9.DK.20Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
9.DK.20Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ca,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
(O,OH)
 
6
](OH)
 
2
9.DK.20Mottanaite-(Ce)
Ca
 
4
(CeCa)AlBe
 
2
(Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
22
)O
 
2
9.DK.20Ciprianiite
Ca
 
4
[(Th,U)(REE)]Al
 
2
(Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
22
)(OH, F)
 
2
]
9.DK.20Hellandite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.18.1Nambulite
(Li,Na)Mn
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.2Natronambulite
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH
14.18.3Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
14.18.4Norrishite
KLiMn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.18.5Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
·6H
 
2
O
14.18.6Abswurmbachite
CuMn
3+
6
O
 
8
(SiO
 
4
)
14.18.7Donpeacorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)Mg[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
14.18.8Kanoite
Mn
2+
 
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.9Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
14.18.10Gonyerite
(Mn,Mg)
 
5
Fe(Si
 
3
Fe)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
14.18.11 Tirodite
14.18.12Manganhumite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
7
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
14.18.13Bustamite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)[SiO
 
3
]
14.18.14Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
14.18.15Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
14.18.16Santaclaraite
CaMn
 
4
[Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH](OH)·H
 
2
O
14.18.17Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.18Johannsenite
CaMn
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.19Neltnerite
CaMn
3+
6
[O
 
8
|SiO
 
4
]
14.18.20Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
14.18.21Inesite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)
 
7
Si
 
10
O
 
28
(OH)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
14.18.22Orientite
Ca
 
2
MnMn
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
4
14.18.23Ruizite
Ca
 
2
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|H
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
] · 2H
 
2
O
14.18.24Bostwickite
CaMn
 
6
Si
 
3
O
 
16
·7H
 
2
O
14.18.25Kittatinnyite
Ca
 
2
Mn
 
2
Mn(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
14.18.26Lithiomarsturite
LiCa
 
2
Mn
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.27Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.18.28Kvanefjeldite
Na
 
4
(Ca,Mn)(Si
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.18.30Raite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Mn,Ti,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
16
(OH)
 
12
·5H
 
2
O
14.18.31Richterite
Na[CaNa][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.18.32Byelorussite-(Ce)
Ba
 
2
NaCe
 
2
MnTi
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(F,OH) · H
 
2
O
14.18.33Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
5
14.18.34Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
14.18.35Pyroxmangite
MnSiO
 
3
14.18.36Dannemorite
14.18.37Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
14.18.38Babingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe,Mn)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.39Manganbabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.40Örebroite
Mn
2+
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Sb
5+
 
)[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]

Other Names for Marsturite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-047
German names:
Marsturit
Spanish names:
Marsturita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Marsturite

Reference List:Peacor et al. (1978): American Mineralogist: 63: 1187-1189.

Dunn, P.J. & P.B. Leavens (1986): Mineralogical Record: 17: 123-125.

American Mineralogist (1990): 75: 413.

Dunn, P.J. (1995): Pt3: 440.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (2003): 132(4): 58.

Internet Links for Marsturite

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    Localities for Marsturite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Ne
          • Graveglia Valley
    		Palenzona, A. (1987): Tangeite e marsturite di Molinello (1a segnalazione). Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 3/1987, 149-151.[MinRec 32:356]
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Tokyo Prefecture
          • Nishi-Tama-gun
            • Okutama
    		Alfredo Petrov collection
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    		Peacor, et al: Am.Min.:63:1187-1189 (1978); Dunn, P.J. & Leavens, P.B.: Min.Rec.:17:123-125 (1986); Dunn(1995):Pt3:440.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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